Suburb close to the City with a walkable downtown and good schools (LaGrange or else?) (Chicago: apartment, crime)

[Ditto97]

I don't think Clarendon Hills and Hinsdale should be completely written off, but the housing stock will be more limited, especially near downtown. Western Springs and La Grange are both good options, as is Downers Grove. I'd consider Riverside as well, although the downtown area might be smaller than you'd like. I would definitely take a drive through these suburbs before you really focus your search.

Arlington Heights would be another suburb to look at, although the commute might be pushing it.

[Chicagoisthebest]

Oak park and Evanston are not that safe compared to other suburbs.

[BOBNCHI]

Originally Posted by Chicagoisthebest

Oak park and Evanston are not that safe.

Nonsense.

[Chicagoisthebest]

Then is edited it and said compared to other suburbs

[Master Jay]

BOBNCHI, good day and Happy New Year.

To be fair, Sir, is it acceptable to say that these cities (like many cities can be) have areas that may look or feel or BE safer than other areas within?

I have been to both cities several times, although neither are my typical time-spending areas.

That said, I believe it is the sentiment of others that, for example, Oak Park may be more desirable the further west you go from Austin Avenue. And Evanston may be more desirable the further north and west you go from its city limits with Chicago.

I think the term, colleague Chicagoisthebest, used, "Oak Park and Evanston are not that safe" makes the ENTIRE areas bad.

I cannot speak for Chicagoisthebest's intention with his statement... I am merely trying to clarify some things in my own perceptions/understandings.

If nothing else, please educate ME! Thank you, and enjoy this last day of 2020 :/

[sree251]

Originally Posted by BOBNCHI

Nonsense.

Roger on that. Granted, the notorious inner-city shootings of Chicago are undesirable. They seem nearby but never seem to spill over into the suburbs.

[RamenAddict]

Originally Posted by Ditto97

I don't think Clarendon Hills and Hinsdale should be completely written off, but the housing stock will be more limited, especially near downtown. Western Springs and La Grange are both good options, as is Downers Grove. I'd consider Riverside as well, although the downtown area might be smaller than you'd like. I would definitely take a drive through these suburbs before you really focus your search.

Arlington Heights would be another suburb to look at, although the commute might be pushing it.

Riverside is very pretty. It is kind of different from the others since the main part is a historic planned community in a landmark district. Clarendon Hills is also pretty small in terms of downtown size, but downtown CH and Westmont are so close together that if you live on the west side, you could easily walk to both. Downers Grove has a lot of tear downs lately.

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by purplypurple

Thank you for the suggestions! To clarify, we certainly don't expect a true urban feel - as urban as a suburban can feel would be great. More than anything, we are looking to avoid having to get in a car for everything and would like to have the option to walk to the Metra station on weekdays and to restaurants/shops/etc straight from home on weekends. So basically, we are looking for a suburb with some stretch of lively & walkable downtown, where such downtown area is in a decent school district and has houses in our budget.

The $600-700k range has been a very competitive space for buyers. However, you should definitely be able to find something that might meet your expectations in Evanston or Wilmette. Central Street, the Main-Dempster Mile, and Downtown Evanston shopping districts are true gems of the North Shore. Downtown Wilmette is improving but still lacks a destination quality. Have you taken a look at what's on the market right now?

Originally Posted by Chicagoisthebest

Why does everything have to be oak park or Evanston?
Some parts of oak park are going downhill.

The OP's criteria closely align with the profiles of those communities. They are very popular areas, and Evanston is among the larger suburbs, to begin with.

There is no part of Oak Park that is "going downhill." If anything, the place has been gentrifying over time.

[A3Environmental]

Elmhurst is a great option. Wheaton has an express train too. They call it the wheaton rocket. 45 minutes.

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by Chicagoisthebest

Oak park and Evanston are not that safe compared to other suburbs.

Originally Posted by Chicagoisthebest

Then is edited it and said compared to other suburbs

Your added caveat is without basis as well. According to City-Data's own data, Oak Park's crime rate is below the national average. Evanston's crime rate is less than half the national average, and also lower than neighboring Skokie and Lincolnwood.

Originally Posted by Master Jay

That said, I believe it is the sentiment of others that, for example, Oak Park may be more desirable the further west you go from Austin Avenue. And Evanston may be more desirable the further north and west you go from its city limits with Chicago.

Southeast Evanston is one of the priciest and most affluent parts of the City, and the 5th ward, the least affluent part of Evanston, is well to the center and west of the City. Therefore, this doesn't jibe with reality.